India cashes in on US interests

Bassam Javed Despite the hurdles in the nuclear deal for 'the liability clause enacted by the Indian Parliament, and strict rules that restrict profitable investment in India by the US businessmen, Washington continues to court it as a compulsion for achieving its national security interests in Asia. India, with great political insight, is determined to cash on its newly realised strategic value without collusion of whom the US will not be able to achieve its national interests in the region. The US Secretary of States nudging of India to act big and look outwards, during her visit to the country, tells all about the highly ambitious agenda that Washington has carved out for both the governments to act in tandem. What has become conspicuous through high-level bilateral interactions is USAs vital interest, which mandates a full-fledged partnership with India to contain Chinas influence in the region and beyond. Hence, the US-Indo relationship though only a decade old has progressed rather rapidly. Although there have been hiccups lately in the mutual agreements during the last one and a half years, yet they do not threaten the relationship, since it is destined to convert itself into an ambitious agenda of both the countries to control Asia. Certainly, there are several reasons why the US wants to go an extra mile for a full-fledged strategic partnership with India. First, the unipolar global order is changing fast that potentially has put the American interests at risk overseas. The upcoming power centres are expanding their area of influence, as the US influence or power wanes due to its repeated misadventures across the globe. Acting alone for the USA is no more possible due to its economic drawdown and, therefore, it looks for partners to help in its designs. Second, the US wants India to play a larger role in the region to enable it further its agenda of the containment of China. However, that would mean that India would have to override its own national and regional interests, as it may be forced to enter into a cold war with China. If India follows the US dictates, the region stands poised for a long turmoil. Third, Americas interest in Indias rapid and sustained economic growth and development. As USA and Pakistan struggle to resurrect their fractured relationship, especially after Operation Geronimo, India seeks to capitalise on its new friendship by assuming the role of a regional and global promoter of American interests. At the same time, New Delhi looks toward Washington to go soft on its demand to create a wall between the military and civilian nuclear reactors, wherein the civilian nuclear reactors would be subjected to US oversight. India in a bid to get maximum benefits out of Americas regional compulsions has gone deep into its embrace. New Delhi is now aligning its foreign policy with that of the US. By toeing its line, it is fast losing its old friends and making new enemies. The fact that India failed to send its Vice President Hameed Ansari to Tehran for a conference on terrorism, in pursuance of USAs strategy on Iran, reflects how far the Indians have gone to please the latter. Two invitations to the Indian Prime Minister by the Iranian President to visit Iran stand unanswered. More so, even President Hamid Karzai is sceptical about the aims with which India has invested in Afghanistan. If the Indian wishes of acting as an American viceroy in the region succeeds, it would have devastating consequences for the Asian region as a whole. The writer is a retired brigadier.